The airbag for motorcyclists

BMW and Dainese develop an inflatable airbag system which will deploy in an accident.

July 22 2013

Sam Hall

Airbag for motorbikes

Motorcyclists could soon be fitted with the same life-saving safety technologies now commonplace in cars.

BMW and Italian leathers manufacturer Dainese have partnered up to develop an airbag system for motorcycle riders. The technology will be introduced for use in motorcycle racing before a retrofitted system is made available for everyday commuters.

In addition, helmet manufacturer Reevu is developing a head-up display system integrated into the top of a helmet visor.

Airbag for motorbikes

The new technologies have been developed in a bid to lower the death rates of motorcycle riders, which are currently 30 times more likely to be killed in a road crash than car occupants, according to statistics.

BMW will officially unveil its motorcycle airbag concept this November at the international motorcycle show in Milan. Expanding on Dainese’s D-air protect system, which is made up of inflatable protectors that deploy in 15 milliseconds, the two brands will develop a one-piece race suit with inflatable airbags for track riders. Later, a street-oriented airbag system will be available for BMW customers as a retrofit option.

According to BMW, the street version of its airbag concept will be launched in 2015, pending the successful completion of crash tests.

Reevu is yet to put a release date on its head-up display system, but says the concept is “commercially viable” and will help mitigate rider distraction.

The technology projects information including turn-by-turn navigation directions, speed and lap times to the helmet visor.